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Last updated Friday, November 29, 2002

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Focus on Human Rights

Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (December, 2002)

Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (October, 2002)

September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity
The Aftermath
 (November, 2002)

Russia Must Not Force Returns to Chechnya
(Moscow, November 29, 2002) The Russian government must stop pressuring internally displaced persons in Ingushetia to return to Chechnya, Human Rights Watch said today. Russian authorities have announced that the Aki-Yurt tent camp in northern Ingushetia will be closed by December 1, 2002, and are now hastening the return of its 1,700 inhabitants.
Burundi: Escalating Violence Demands Action
(New York, November 29, 2002) Recent army massacres of civilians and bombardment of the capital by the rebel Forces for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) are raising the risk of further widespread killing of civilians in Burundi, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.
Côte d’Ivoire: Government Targeting Civilians
(New York, November 28, 2002) The government of Côte d’Ivoire has responded to an army rebellion by committing abuses against innocent civilians, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Traffickers Walk Free
(New York, November 26, 2002) Traffickers who have forced thousands of women and girls into prostitution in Bosnia and Herzegovina are not being apprehended for their crimes, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
“Pro-Torture” Legislation Looms in Georgia
(New York, November 26, 2002) The Georgian government must halt the further erosion of safeguards against torture, said Human Rights Watch today. On Thursday, November 21, Interior Minister Koba Narchemashvili demanded regressive new amendments to Georgia’s already seriously flawed criminal procedure code, and parliament indicated it would pass whatever he proposed.
Guinea: Security of Liberian Refugees under Threat
(New York, November 25, 2002) The United Nations Security Council should extend the arms embargo on Liberia to all rebel groups, and closely monitor the compliance of the Guinean government with that embargo, Human Rights Watch said today.
Iran: Dangerous Paramilitary Threat
(New York, November 22, 2002) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's public threat against peaceful student demonstrators could spark a repeat of 1999 paramilitary violence in Iran, Human Rights Watch warned today.
Nepal/Bhutan : Sexual Abuse Highlights Plight of Refugees
(November 22, 2002) Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warned today that new allegations of sexual abuse of women and children among Bhutanese refugees in Nepal show the human cost of one of the world's unresolved and forgotten refugee problems.
Colombia: Aid Suspension Decision Welcomed
(New York, November 21, 2002) The decision by the United States to suspend military assistance to a Colombian Air Force unit implicated in a serious violation of the laws of war is a positive step, Human Rights Watch said today. The decision marks the first time in Colombia that the United States has suspended assistance on human rights grounds.
Kenya, Uganda: Urban Refugees Abused     (Français)
(Nairobi, November 21, 2002) Tens of thousands of refugees in the capitals of Kenya and Uganda are living in dire and dangerous conditions, and national governments are taking insufficient steps to address their plight, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
U.S. Needs to Screen Iraqi Opposition Allies
(New York, November 21, 2002) The charges brought by Danish police against a former Iraqi general underscores the need for the United States to screen its would-be allies in the Iraqi opposition, Human Rights Watch said today.
U.S. Homeland Security Bill
(Washington, D.C., November 21, 2002) The Homeland Security Department approved Tuesday by the U.S. Congress lacks the internal oversight necessary to protect civil rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The bill also fails to provide adequate protection for unaccompanied immigrant children.
Detaining Conscripts Violates Human Rights
(Moscow, November 21, 2002) Each year, hundreds of young men in Moscow and St. Petersburg are detained and forcibly conscripted into the Russian armed forces, Human Rights Watch said in a new report today.
China: Protect Rights of North Korean Asylum-Seekers
(New York, November 19, 2002) China must end the forcible return of North Korean asylum-seekers and the arrest and harassment of aid workers who assist them, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
NATO: Address Weak Arms Trade Controls in Central and Eastern Europe
(New York, November 15, 2002) The upcoming NATO summit in Prague, Czech Republic, provides an opportunity for NATO to address the urgent need to improve arms trade controls in Central and Eastern Europe, Human Rights Watch said today.
China: Suzhou HIV/AIDS Law Praised
(New York, November 15, 2002) - A new Suzhou city law protecting the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is an important first step toward combating widespread discrimination in China, Human Rights Watch said today.
U.S. Officials Should Have Been Better Prepared For Hate Crime Wave
(New York, November 14, 2002) Public officials tried vigorously to contain a wave of hate crimes in the United States after September 11, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Nevertheless, anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States rose 1700 percent during 2001. The report documents anti-Arab and anti-Muslim violence and the local, state and federal response to it.
Afghanistan: Police Beat Students in Hospital
(New York, November 14, 2002) - Kabul police have beaten and threatened students following protests at Kabul University earlier this week and are holding several injured students incommunicado at a hospital, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the special government commission appointed to investigate the protests to protect students and witnesses from police abuse.
AIDS in India: Money Won’t Solve Crisis
(New York, November 13, 2002) -- A rising tide of violence against people affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India threatens to undermine the generosity of international donors, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch Honors Global Rights Defenders
(New York, November 13, 2002) -- On Wednesday, November 13, Human Rights Watch will give its highest honor to three leading human rights activists from around the world.
Iran: Academic’s Death Sentence Condemned
(New York, November 9, 2002) — The death sentence handed down this week for apostasy against Prof. Hashem Aghajari is a blatant attempt to quash legitimate, non-violent criticism of Iran's clerical rulers, Human Rights Watch said today.
Colombia: Attorney General Undermines Human Rights Investigations
  en español
(New York, November 8, 2002) Colombia’s Attorney General has seriously undermined the investigation and prosecution of major human rights cases, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Human Rights Watch to Honor Africa Justice Activist
(New York, November 7, 2002) On November 13, Human Rights Watch will give its highest recognition to Souleymane Guengueng, a torture victim who leads the campaign to bring the former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré, to justice. Guengueng’s pioneering effort seeks to break the cycle of impunity on the war-torn African continent.
Human Rights Watch to Honor Leading Indian AIDS Advocate
(New York, November 7, 2002) — On November 13, Human Rights Watch will give its highest recognition to Meena Saraswathi Seshu, an activist whose courageous work in southern India has helped women in prostitution and others at high risk of HIV/AIDS to combat abuse and discrimination and become important allies in the fight against a growing AIDS epidemic.
Ecuador: U.S. Caves on Labor Rights
(New York, November 7, 2002) The United States has granted Ecuador enhanced trade benefits under the U.S. Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) even though Ecuador has failed to comply with the Act's labor rights requirements, Human Rights Watch said today.
EU-SADC Summit Must Focus on Human Rights
(New York, November 6, 2002) Safeguarding rights and responding robustly to the looming humanitarian disaster in southern Africa should top the agenda at this week’s high level ministerial meeting between members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union (EU), Human Rights Watch said today.
Albania: New Evidence of Harassment of Media
(New York, November 5, 2002) Harassment of the media has spiked in Albania recently, Human Rights Watch said today. The European Union should make press freedom a key part of its association talks with the Albanian government.
Afghanistan: Torture and Political Repression in Herat
(New York, November 5, 2002) - The U.S.-led coalition forces are actively backing a warlord in western Afghanistan with a disastrous human rights record, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
Yugoslavia: Concern Over Torture of Crime Suspects
(New York, November 1, 2002) Human Rights Watch expressed concern about the apparent use of torture by the Serbian police against individuals arrested for murder of a police general and planning other attacks on government and police officials.
Israel/PA: Suicide Bombers Commit Crimes Against Humanity
(Gaza, November 1, 2002) The people responsible for planning and carrying out suicide bombings that deliberately target civilians are guilty of crimes against humanity and should be brought to justice, Human Rights Watch said in a new report today.
Cuba: Release of Incarcerated Dissident
(New York, October 31, 2002) The Cuban government should follow the long-awaited release of prominent dissident Oscar Elías Biscet González by freeing other political prisoners, Human Rights Watch said today. Biscet was freed early this morning, having served out a three-year sentence for protesting government policies.
D.R. Congo: U.N. Must Prevent “Ethnic Cleansing” in Ituri
(New York, October 31, 2002) The U.N. Security Council must increase its peacekeeping force in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protect civilians against slaughter, Human Rights Watch said in a backgrounder released today.
Trade Ministers Urged to Protect Labor Rights in FTAA
(New York, October 30, 2002) Western Hemisphere trade ministers meeting in Ecuador this week should ensure that the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) includes effective workers' rights protections, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.
Independent Commission of Inquiry Must Investigate Raid on Moscow Theater
(New York, October 30, 2002) An independent commission of inquiry must investigate the circumstances of Russia’s hostage rescue operation in Moscow, Human Rights Watch said today.
Turkey Fails Displaced Villagers
(Istanbul, October 30, 2002) The Turkish government, security forces and paramilitaries are obstructing the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced villagers to their homes in the formerly war-torn southeast, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
Kazakhstan: Open Investigation Needed of Charges against Kazakh Journalist
(New York, October 29, 2002) Kazakh authorities should guarantee an open and transparent investigation of rape charges leveled against journalist Sergei Duvanov, Human Rights Watch said today.
FTAA Summit: Reject Tighter Patents on AIDS Drugs
(New York, October 29, 2002) Parties to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) should reject any agreement that strengthens HIV/AIDS drug patents at the expense of public health measures permitted by existing global trade rules, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.
Uganda: Army and Rebels Step Up Attacks on Civilians
(New York, October 29, 2002) Both the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Ugandan government forces have stepped up abuses against civilians in recent months, Human Rights Watch said today in a briefing paper on the war in northern Uganda.
Turkey: Elections Pose Test
(Istanbul, October 28, 2002) Turkey's November 3 parliamentary elections pose an important test of progress made since 1999 elections marred by serious irregularities, Human Rights Watch said today releasing a backgrounder on Turkey's recent election record.
U.S. Senator Was “Real Leader on Human Rights”
(Washington, October 25, 2002) -- Human Rights Watch expressed its shock and sorrow today at the death of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, a champion of human rights and justice. Wellstone was killed, along with his wife, daughter and several staff members in a plane crash in his home state of Minnesota.
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